HIGH HYBRID REINFORCED SOIL SLOPE AS RUNWAY SUPPORT – A CASE STUDY

Abstract: The use of hybrid Reinforced Soil Slopes combining anchored gabion units and high strength geogrids for infrastructures development is growing in Indonesia. Hybrid RSS are considered a valid and competitive alternative to other traditional earth retaining structures. Despite this growth, civil engineers and construction companies are not yet familiar with the related design and construction aspects. This paper intends to share the Author’s experience regarding the design and the construction of the first stage of a 25 m high hybrid RSS for the new touristic airport at Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. It is worth to note that the RSS was built on soft and weathered clay shales and cohesive backfilling materials were used as part of the reinforced soil mass. This paper aims to present the main technical issues related to the project, the design process, which was carried out using both FEM and Limit Equilibrium method software, and the relevant construction aspects.

Gouw Tjie Liong, Ir., M.Eng, ChFC, PhD

Mr. Gouw is a certified Professional Geotechnical Engineer. He has been working in the field of Geotechnical Engineering since 1984. His expertise covering geotechnical investigation, soil intrumentation, deep foundation and excavation for high rise buildings, pile load testing (Static and PDA), pile integrity testing (PIT), sonic logging test, vibration monitoring, slope stability, ground anchors, pumping test, dewatering, micropiles, tunnelling and ground improvement works, e.g. dynamic compaction, vertical drain, vibro-compaction, geosynthetic and grouting. The jobs cover more than 180 projects in Indonesia, Singapore and Srilanka.
He has a great passion in the teaching and disseminating of geotechnical engineering knowledge. He serves as lecturer since late 1984. Currently, he serves as a senior lecturer at Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta, Indonesia. He also conduct regular geotechnical training for engineers.
He also chaired the Indonesian Chapter of International Geosynthetics Society since 2006.
He has published 80 papers and 22 technical notes.